archive 2004

 

 

Our website, containing details of DCMS activities, changes in the law and job vacancies has been made available by telephone, to people without access to a computer.  The DCMS is the first Government department to do so.

 

The blind and partially sighted, around 90 per cent of whom do not have computers, will also benefit.

 

From 4 May anyone will be able to ring 0845 333 0850 (local rate charges) to gain voice access to the entire content of the DCMS website from any telephone.  The service will begin with a three-month trial.

 

Our website, which recorded 160,000 visits last month, includes details of the new Licensing Act, the National Lottery, Sports issues including the London Olympic Bid for 2012, and a huge number of other topics.

 

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said:

 

"We have always seen it as a priority to make the best of the nation's culture and sport available to the greatest possible number.  This principle must apply to everything we do in the DCMS too.

 

"That's why I am delighted that we are pioneering this innovative way of getting up-to-date information on what we are doing to those who want it, whether they have a computer or not."

 

Our website is already very popular with users.  More than a million pages were 'hit' last month by more than 50,000 separate visitors.  Most popular areas at the moment are the pages giving details of the new Licensing Act which reforms the current archaic laws, and the sections on Sport and Job vacancies.

 

Tessa Jowell continued:

 

"The blind and partially-sighted will benefit too.  Only one in ten of this group are computer users so a huge number will now be able to access information about what we are up to, and how we spend the public funding we receive.

"I hope this trial is a success and that, if so, it paves the way for other Government departments and agencies to follow our example."

 

The three month trial is being delivered by http://www.phoneanything.com/.